During the busy last few days on the 8000’ers, five climbers have died and two are still missing.
The death toll for this Himalayan season currently reads: Annapurna (1 dead), Cho Oyu (1 dead), Everest (1 dead, 1 missing), Kangchenjunga (2 dead, 1 missing), Lhotse (1 dead), Makalu (2 dead, 1 missing).
Everest (8,848m)
Irish climber Seamus Lawless, who went missing yesterday at approximately 8,300m, has not been found. Three Sherpas searched the Balcony area, where he was believed to have fallen, yesterday and this morning, without success. The chances of finding Lawless alive are slim. High winds now buffet the mountain, and a further search may not resume until at least May 19.
Also on Everest, Ravi Thakar from India was found dead inside his tent at Camp 4 (8,000m) early this morning. Thakar was a part of the Seven Summit Treks International Everest 2019 team, which shared logistical support with others, including the Irish team. Cause of death is unknown.
Lhotse (8,516m)
Bulgarian climber Ivan Tomov died today after reaching the summit yesterday. Tomov, 35, was climbing alongside Russian Nastya Runova, without Sherpa support or oxygen. He struggled during the descent and was given oxygen and Dexamethasone at Camp 4, where he spent the night. Although he managed to climb down a little further today, he perished somewhere close to Camp 4. Tomov had previously scaled Broad Peak and Manaslu without oxygen in 2014 and 2017; in 2013, he was at Camp 2 on Nanga Parbat when the terrorist attack hit Base Camp.
Ivan Tomov. Photo: Ivan Tomov
Makalu (8,481m)
Narayan Singh, a member of the successful Indian Army expedition, has died at 8,100m. The soldier developed high altitude sickness on his way down from the summit.
The 2019 Indian Army Makalu Expedition Team. Photo: Seven Summit Treks
Another Indian climber, Dipankar Ghos, is currently missing at 7,300m and Sherpas have searched with no success.
Dipankar Ghos on Cho Oyu. Photo: Dipankar Ghos
Kangchenjunga (8,586m)
Rodrigo Vivanco disappeared above Camp 4 (7,550m) after summiting late on Wednesday evening and remains missing despite search efforts.
The bodies of Kuntal Karar and Biplab Baidya have been brought down to Camp 2 and are awaiting helicopter recovery to Kathmandu.
